Just how knowing how soap bubbles and economic bubbles work, how secure do you feel with this revelation? “The whole Universe is accommodated on the edge of this expanding bubble”. Great.

It was hard enough to sleep when pondering first the world was flat (and if you sailed off the edge, there were monsters…). Then the universe was an expanding box that you keep going to the end and unfolding only to find an endless cycle of boxes to collapse.

Like a visionary land developer standing in a barren desert and seeing a magical city – but on a much smaller scale – they say Gerd Dreher would sit for hours holding, rotating, staring at a raw lump of gemstone until he could see the life hiding within it.

“Gerd Dreher is widely regarded as the most talented carver of gemstones to have ever lived. His works – exquisitely detailed, extremely realistic carvings of animals wrought from crystals of ruby, sapphire, citrine, amethyst, aquamarine, topaz, garnet, and agate – are among the most highly sought masterpieces of the lapidary arts” Feb. 11, 1939 – Jan 4, 2018. (Houston Museum of Natural Science)

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What a gem of a story! Once again I learned something new and fascinating – thank you!!!

My good friend’s mother, who passed away a few years ago, took up carving when she was in her late 30’s. I remember my friend explained that her mom was in the process of discovering herself (quit her job, left a 20 year marriage), and what she discovered was amazing. She started making these beautiful pieces of art out of stone or wood or anything that inspired her, and when I asked her about them, she’d say, “Beth, these figures were always there. I just had to look at them long enough, and then help them come out.” What an eye. This is something I truly admire in others – there ability to see past the obvious, and pull forward something that has been waiting just for them to show to the world.

Speaking of art, I should be in Houston to see the Tudor art exhibit, and also grabbing up my friend’s daughter who just started her first year at U of H (and is minoring in art history). Thank you for letting me know about it, because of you I’ll be going on my own adventure soon!

Happy first weekend of the New Year!
“…then help them come out” What a cool way to describe the creative process. Creativity is there for all – it just comes out in different ways…if people don’t let it get smashed down early in life.
Can’t wait to hear about your adventures in Houston – what a cool person to be going with!!!
Thanks for traveling along

I’m a great fan of good glasswork, but this certainly is equal in beauty. Has Bob seen his carved cousin? I think they’d get along famously. And now I’m realizing that I have some carved stone, too — a grouping of pigs done in a Chinese style, from Louisiana soapstone. Creativity truly does know no bounds.

Soapstone is apparently very popular for carving. I can’t believe the details of these pieces.So hard to believe critics for so long called this sort fo sculpture “craft” or folk art instead of fine art.
Bob says people categorize things so strangely
Cheers and happy weekend of the new year!

I grew up eating frog’s legs. Not sure that this is relevant, but i learned about frog anatomy in nature as opposed to the lab. My mother would make me chop off their feet. “Too creepy” she would declare. We have a large frog and a large toad as doorstops here, and lots of other frogs, as well. Happy, happy. –Curt

I was waiting for that hopping remark. Sounds like my mom’s story about how she made other wring the chicken’s necks…something about chickens will keep running around with their heads cut off…
Your adopting frog and toad replicas probably signals you’ve changed your ways and are not to be slimed or warted in the wild HAHA
Thanks for splashing down here to chat

I thought the Faberge legacy were those Russian Eggs worth millions and millions of dollars, for some silly reason.
Those frogs are a bit off putting , reminds me of those from across the Channel,
Do like that little mouse, looks very sweet.

I started laughing when I saw all those frogs – knew you’d get a hoot out of them. All I could think was “what’s with all the frogs? Maybe it was a tongue in cheek political thing? Some symbolism important to the times? Kept hearing French tunes….
While intricate carvings, they aren’t worth as much as the eggs I imagine, but I’m not a collector – much probably depends on who purchased and who owned them.
Wish I had a better camera – the fine details – like the tiny hairs on the mouse were so amazing that anyone could do that…not to mention doing that while suspended stretched out own their stomach. Ah, how some will suffer for art or a paycheck.
Thanks for cutting in line to chat!